It was inaugurated by Minister for Agriculture K P Mohanan | By Yentha

On May 30, 2012

Trivandrum: K P Mohanan, Minister for Agriculture, inaugurated the harvest of the organic farming programme conducted by the State Horticulture Mission and Collectorate Recreation Club, at Kudappanakkunnu Civil Station. Minister for Revenue Adoor Prakash, K N Satheesh IAS - Trivandrum District Collector and Dr. K Prathapan – Director, State Horticulture Mission were also present at the function, which was presided over by MLA K Muraleedharan.

“The peri-urban vegetable initiative of the Union Ministry of Agriculture under the Rakshtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana, which was implemented in Trivandrum, has shown positive results. This project is aimed at cultivating vegetables in each and every house so that the daily meal would include at least one vegetable cultivated at home,” says Dr. K Prathapan Director State Horticulture Mission.

“We also plan to introduce vending machines in the city from which the public can buy vegetable seeds. Seeds weighing ten grams will be made available through these machines," he added.

“It is a new venture, I hope that it will be successful. Through this
programme, we aim to promote the use of non-toxic vegetables, which are
produced without the use of chemicals. Chemical farming is no longer
acceptable, since it badly affects the air we breathe, the water we
drink and the land we depend on for food and habitat. So we should give
our full support to organic farming,” Said K P Mohanan, Minister for
Agriculture.

The first phase of the organic farming was done in fallow land owned by
the government and the second phase of farming will soon be underway.
“Cheera” (Palak) was cultivated in the first phase and the second phase
will see the cultivation of more vegetables. The planting was done three
weeks ago and was inaugurated by K N Satheesh IAS. It was his
assistance and the supervision of the District Horticulture Mission,
which helped the planning process bear fruit.